Noah & The Whale |

The First Days of Spring |

Cherrytree Records |

On Release August 31^st 2009 |

****/5

First off, if like me, all you knew of Noah & The Whale was last year’s twee Five Years Time, don’t be put off. The First Days of Spring is far removed from previous fare, and spiritually far more akin to Bon Iver’s For Emma, Forever Ago, being a seasonally flavoured post-breakup album. Whereas For Emma started in the winter months to slowly bring a thaw by its final song, The First Days of Spring’s sojourn goes in the opposite direction; the eponymous opening track begins in Spring with a plaintive but stirring appeal for the return of a lost love, while closing track My Door is Always Open channels Will Oldham in its quiet resignation, a bittersweet release from the bonds of that failed relationship. If the First Days of Spring was intended as creative therapy for lead singer Charlie Fink, then he appears to have succeeded, finishing with a glimmer of new hope, a moving on. It’s the musical equivalent of turning off the light, putting the stools up on the tables and locking the door on his old life to start afresh. The Last Days of Spring is a beautifully crafted album, a long-player that works as a cohesive whole, that gently demands to be listened to from start to finish. Noah & The Whale have certainly proven themselves to be more than just a one-trick pony, and this mature, accomplished piece of work deserves to be the sleeper hit that For Emma, Forever ago was last year.

Just Jack |

All Night Cinema |

Mercury |

On release from August 17^th |

*/5

I made it four tracks into this album before I gave up. It’s magnolia. Why are you even reading this review? Go listen to Jack Penate or Jamie T instead fool.

Jeff Lambert

Walter Mitty & the Realists |

Green Light Go |

Forty Five Records |

On Release August 27^th |

****/5

Walter Mitty & the Realists are the hotly tipped champions of the Galway/Limerick music scene after having numerous words of praise bestowed upon them. The thing that blows people away when they see Walter Mitty is the amazing amount of energy that pours off of the stage and this energy has translated to their debut album Green Light Go, in the works for almost 18 months. Their first studio album with Fergal Lawler (you might know him from The Cranberries) captures the essence and vitality of the band.  Adding to the band’s line up of guitar, bass and percussion are Anna and Tara from We Should Be Dead who lend their vocals to the opening track on the album, ‘Green Light Go’ along with the vocals of the Cliona Gilligan with  Byronie Hopper and Peter Hanley adding violin and cello on  ‘We Live Alone Now’.  Benoit adds his human beatbox stylings beautifully to ‘My Inner Child is a Drumkit.’ With new material that pushes their musical boundaries while still remaining true to their musical roots. Anyone who likes to hear them live will want this album and quick.

Brian Smith

Catch Walter Mitty & The Realists at the Little Big Album Launch Party on Friday August 28^th supported by Maslow. www.myspace.com/waltermittyandtherealists

Pearse McLoughlin

Busy Whisper

Urchin Music

On release now

++++/5

Nu-Folk at it’s gentle best with Pearse McLoughlin’s debut release Busy Whisper. Lots of layered guitars, gentle percussion and echoey voice as an instrument open this record with the song, L’espoir des Revenants. Pearse, who played under the nom de chanson Walkperson, steps louder to the microphone in subsquent tracks but overall this is a gentle album with a very strong backbone. Dreamy stuff. Stand out songs for me include Ways to Kill a Werewolf and Passion Song which ends a more epic note than other tracks without ever becoming too screamy or screechy. Busy Whisper is beautifully pitched album from an artist to watch or listen to I should say. Oh, Long Day is gorgeous too. He can sing, he can play, he can write. I bet he can dance too.

www.myspace.com/walkperson

E.P

Nick Carswell and The Elective Orchestra |

When I’m not Around |

Silly Goose Records |

On Release Now |

***/5

A slim offering from local hero Nick Carswell, but all the better for it. When I’m not Around rattles along beautifully, gets the job done and gets outta dodge. Carswell has a tremendous knack for penning deceptively catchy tunes, and the title track of this EP encapsulates this perfectly, marrying a warm and weighty orchestral sound with simultaneously sweet and sharp lyrics, like a sugar-coated icepick. The real star of this record is the orchestra themselves- it’s all tinkling pianos, jazzy guitars, sweeping strings and harmonies so tight you couldn’t slide a rizla paper between ‘em. Tidy. www.myspace.com/nickcarswell

Jeff Lambert

Singles

Brad Pitt Light Orchestra |

Soon! |

On release from August 31^st on download.ie |

Brad Pitt Light Orchestra’s latest single, Soon! captures the essence of a happy heart with an upbeat, feel good, take it for a dance track, layered with vocals, thrumming percussion, jaunty guitars and a big band lift. Soon! bodes well for the debut album which we can look forward to getting our ears around in the coming weeks.